All about SolidWorks CSWA and CSWP certification exams

Introduction

SolidWorks is the world’s premier design and engineering CAD software program, used by an estimated eight million people worldwide to design everything from racing cars to kids’ toys. 

If you’re searching for a job in the engineering or product design field then it’s highly likely that SolidWorks will be one of the essential requirements that your future employers are looking for.

But with so many claimed users around the globe, how can you stand out from the crowd, prove your skills and ensure that recruiters take a second look at your application?

SolidWorks certifications like the CSWA and CSWP may be the answer.

SolidWorks certifications are a series of exams, run by SolidWorks, that allow you to verify your skills to employers and clients, proving that your SolidWorks skills reach a certain level.

There are over 35 different SolidWorks certifications ranging in complexity and specialising in different areas but the two most common are the entry-level Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) and the more-advanced Certified SOLIDWORKS Professional (CSWP).

This article will explain what these two exams entail and help you choose the one best-suited to you and detail why and how you can actually take and pass the exam.

We’ll explore the exam format, how you can prepare for the exams, as well as providing expert tips and tricks to help increase your odds of success.

Then we’ll finish by suggested the next steps in your learning journey. 

Why Get Certified, and Do I Even Need to?

First things first: taking these SolidWorks exams costs time, money and effort, so why would you bother if you’re already a confident SolidWorks user?

To start off let’s have a look at what many tutors won’t tell you about SolidWorks certificates.

The hard truth is that these exams are not a magic bullet and they won’t guarantee that you walk into a job.

Many very good designers and engineers never get certified and they still have very successful careers.

Personally I worked a freelance designer for over ten years before getting certified.

I truly believe that as a junior designer a more effective use of your time is be to concentrate on your general SolidWorks skills.

So, if you’re short on time, or money, then certifications aren’t essential, however, if you’re happy with your skills and looking to make the next learning step then consider the advantages that they bring:

Career Benefits:

​Many people lie, or at least exaggerate on their resumes.

By having official SolidWorks certificates you are proving that you have a certain level of SolidWorks skill and knowledge, making it more likely that you’ll be hired.

Skill Validation:

Any potential employer or client can look at your certificate and be sure that you’re competent with a range of SolidWorks skills and tools, again increasing your likelihood of getting a job.

New Skills:

​Although you might have used SolidWorks for years, the process of preparing for the exam may push you to learn new skills.

For example, many beginner to mid-range users don’t use power features like Equations or Design Tables until they learn them for the CSWA and CWSA exams.

Personal Motivation:

​The act of spending time and money preparing for the exams shows, to yourself and others, that you’re willing to invest in and improve yourself.

This sign of ambition is a great quality for employers but also can give you an important personal boost.

Passing the exams is an excellent confidence boost that can motivate you to reach your career goals.

Community:

​Getting certified can connect you with similarly-qualified individuals and gives you access to the SolidWorks Certification Directory.

Overview of SolidWorks Certification Levels

There are dozens of different SolidWorks certifications, for many specialisms and experience levels, but here we will concentrate on the main two, the Certified SolidWorks Associate and Professional exams.

CSWA – Certified SolidWorks Associate

​CSWA is the base level of general SolidWorks exam, intended for young professionals, hobbyists or relatively new users.

In the words of SolidWorks – “Being a CSWA is the difference between saying “I’ve used SolidWorks” and “I know SolidWorks.”

It focuses on fundamental SolidWorks skills like part modelling, basic assemblies and simple drawing tools, letting employers see that you know the must-have skills of a serious SolidWorks user.

The exam typically lasts 180 minutes and has 14 questions, with a pass mark of 70%.

This is usually split into three main sections. First, a multi-choice section covers Drawing conventions and tools.

Next is a Part creation section asks you to make and modify a part from a drawing using various sketching techniques and features like Extrudes, Revolves and Patterns.

Finally, an Assembly section explores building Assemblies and using basic Mates.

The exam costs $99 and users will need a copy of SolidWorks 2011 or newer.

You’ll find out whether you passed immediately after the exam and in the event of a failing, users can retake the test but only after a waiting period, and after purchasing a new exam entry.

CSWP – Certified SolidWorks Professional

​CSWP is a step up, proving that users have professional-level skills in modelling, design and assembly.

This certification is usually taken after a user has completed CSWA, although that’s not a mandatory prerequisite; confident users can skip directly to this level.

The total exam length is 3 hours, 20 minutes but is split into three parts that can all be taken independently.

Segment 1 lasts 70 minutes and covers making parts from drawings and modifying them using Equations and other methods.

Segment 2 has a length of 50 minutes and involves modifying existing SolidWorks parts, including using Design Tables and Configurations.

Finally, Segment 3 is 80 minutes long and requires you to make an assembly and use features like collision detection, interference detection, advanced mates and coordinate systems.

Each segment costs $33, giving a total cost of $99. If a single segment is failed it can be retaken separately from the others, after the standard waiting period, and after purchasing a new exam entry.

Because this exam uses Design Tables users will require a copy of SolidWorks 2015 or newer, as well as a copy of Microsoft Excel.

How the Exams Work, and What to Expect

All SolidWorks certification exams follow a similar process and are delivered online through the SolidWorks Certification Center.

A downloaded program will monitor your progress, time you and provide all the necessary files and questions that you need.

In order to actually take the exams, visit the SolidWorks website or speak to your SolidWorks reseller, or school or college IT department.

Some SolidWorks subscriptions provide users with exam credits that allow you to take the exam for free, or at a reduced price, so it is worth speaking to your SolidWorks contact before buying credits.

The exams are a mixture of Multi-Choice Questions (MCQ) and open-response questions where you will write in various measurements from the models you create.

How to Prepare for the Exam

The SolidWorks certification exams can appear daunting but with proper preparation any competent user will be able to pass using the following strategies:

Use the SourceCAD website : 

The SolidWorks certification website from Dassault System contains a huge amount of information about exactly what the exam entails.

But this information is scattered and not complete.

So, we decided to make a complete course that only focuses on CSWA and CSWP certification exam preparation.

These courses contain exam details, question types, relevant topics from the syllabus, and finally mock exams as well.

You can check the SolidWorks CSWA certification exam preparation course and SolidWorks CSWP certification exam preparation course from SourceCAD.

Focus on the topics explicitly listed on these pages – if you are confident with these then you can pass the exam.

Use the Sample Exams:

​The SolidWorks certification pages listed in the previous section also contain sample exams for each test.

These contain masses of very valuable information and some sample questions that are very similar to the real exam questions.

Make sure that you can confidently pass all of these questions before taking the exam.

Practice the use of SolidWorks:

​You can’t beat real, hands-on experience.

Using SolidWorks regularly will increase your familiarity with the software and speed up your workflow, as well as helping you learn how to deal with any unexpected problems that may crop up.

Understand, don’t memorise:

​Try to understand why things are done in a certain way, instead of just memorising sample questions.

Focus on design intent and parametric relationships and practice recreating parts from engineering drawings.

Use an online study guide:

Taking these exams can be daunting.

Even as a SolidWorks user with years of experience I found myself nervous when taking the first exam, especially with the costs involved.

Practice the exam by using an online study guide [link to the courses here].

This will help ensure that you know all of the areas needed and can greatly boost your confidence.

Expert Tips for Success 

These tips are relevant to ALL SolidWorks certification exams. If you don’t take anything else from this article, then remember these:

Read the question properly.

Missing a single sentence of the question can make you skip some important details of the model.

Spend considerable time on the first question​ of the same problem set.

It can be easy to focus on the ticking timer and feel like you’re spending too long on the first question.

However, often the first question involves creating the entire model and so subsequent questions will be much faster to answer.

Also, following questions are often based on the first one so any error in the first answer will cause the subsequent answers to also be wrong.

Aim for the exact answer.

​Many questions allow a small deviation of 0.5% from the correct answer.

However, try to make sure that your answer exactly matches one of the MCQ options.

This is because there is often a base question and the following questions are based on that question.

For each question save the file with a new file name.

This will allow you to easily return to the previous models if they need checking.

Select the correct unit system and material before starting each model.

If you use incorrect units or the wrong material, you will probably get the wrong answer.

Try to start each question with the same process – set the units, and set the material type before starting modelling.

Fully Define every sketch and don’t assume anything.

The provided dimensions will always result in a Fully Defined sketch.

If your sketch is Underdefined then something is wrong or missing.

Do not assume any dimensions or relations to fully define a sketch.

Re-check the provided drawings and add any missing dimensions or relations. 

Make use of Equations and Global Variables.

These are vital for building the model correctly and then easily updating it for the subsequent questions.

If you’re not confident in the use of Equations then check out this explanation video [link to the Equation video I made].

Make sure the Global Variables are linked to the model.

​If you have manually inserted a value instead of using the variables, then when you update the variables the model will not change, resulting in the wrong answer.

Don’t rush, just for the sake of saving a few seconds.

The timer can encourage you to whizz through without reading everything but stay calm.

It’s faster to do it slowly but properly rather than to rush, make a mistake and then have to do it all again.

Check what value the question is asking for and then type that value correctly.

​Double-check everything that you type, and if you have time then go back through recheck your typed answers at the end of the exam.

After You Pass: Next Steps and Final Thoughts

If you follow the preparation and tips and tricks listed above then you should be able to pass your certifications with no problems.

Once you’ve got your shiny new certificate be sure to add it to your resume, portfolio and LinkedIn profile.

Try to keep your skills sharp with continued learning and professional projects.

You might even consider further study before progressing to more advanced certifications.

Passing your SolidWorks certifications can seem like a far-off achievement when you’re a SolidWorks beginner but every user started somewhere.

And if you want to get hired for a design engineer role, then it is a key software to learn.

So start today, pick a target exam and start working towards it by looking at the topics covered and practicing them regularly.